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England Under 15s in new World Cup chaos as their opponents REFUSE to face last-minute penalty, giving them an empty net, before the Young Lions have to step in to defend the referee

England's Under-15 World Cup campaign has once again descended into chaos after they beat Bolivia with an uncontested last-kick penalty.

By BOBBY MANZI · Daily Mail

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 10:24 AM

Key Things to Know

Bolivia refused to defend a controversial last-minute penalty against England Under-15s, resulting in an uncontested goal.
West Ham player Emmanuel Famokun rolled the penalty into an open net after Bolivia's goalkeeper stood by the post.
England players had to protect the referee as altercations erupted and a Bolivian substitute attempted to attack the official.

The Story in 60 Seconds

England Under-15s secured a controversial victory over Bolivia after their opponents refused to defend a disputed last-minute penalty. West Ham's Emmanuel Famokun was awarded the 41st-minute spot kick following a foul that appeared outside the box. In protest, Bolivia's team gathered near the touchline and the goalkeeper stood aside, allowing Famokun to score into an empty net before the final whistle blew.

Tensions erupted immediately after the goal, with a Bolivian substitute sent off for attempting to attack the referee. England players stepped in to protect the official amid scuffles between both squads. The incident follows another chaotic match at the tournament, where England manager Matt Thorpe previously led his team off against Ireland due to an alleged racist remark.

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